South Africa offers Malawi fuel deal, mist on Zambia ‘donation’

South African government has offered a business deal to Malawi in supplying fuel to help ease panic buying following shortage of the gasoline in the country.

International Relations Minister of South Africa, Maite Mashabane, who led a delegation from President Jacob Zuma to meet new Malawi President Joyce Banda in Lilongwe, said Zuma administration would want to help the country in ease the fuel shortages.

She said the South African government would offer a “business deal” that will help Malawi “on the fuel side”.

Mashabane: President Banda will announce

Mashabane said President Banda will formally announce the deal.

Meanwhile he five million litres of fuel which was reportedly donated to Malawi by Zambia President Micheal Sata to help facilitate funeral arrangements for former president Bingu wa Mutharika, may be paid for after all.

Five million litres of fuel is valued at US$ 5 million and is estimated to last for five days. Malawi consumes one million litres of fuel on daily basis.

Zambian minister of mines, energy and water development Christopher Yaluma after making a symbolic presentation of the donation, said the two government will discuss on whether there should be payment for the fuel “ after Mutharika’s funeral ceremony.”

Five million litres of fuel is valued at US$ 5 million and is estimated to last for five days. Malawi consumes one million litres of fuel on daily basis.

The Zambian minister said the fuel is “on its way to Malawi.”

He said: “We need at least 100 tankers to transport 1 million litters.”

Malawi’s Energy Minister Goodall Gondwe said the fuel will be kept at Kamuzu International Airport reserves.

Chief Secretary to Government Bright Msaka said State President Joyce Banda “wishes to express her deep gratitude to Sata, the government and people of Zambia for the kind and generous donation.”